We could peer at the Taj Mahal from a distance all afternoon the day before we visited… first from the Agra Fort… and then from the hotel… and it looked as exciting in person as it had been in my imagination. The next morning we all woke up before the sunrise with great anticipation. The girls donned their new Saris, we drank tea, and after spending a few hours wandering the gardens and thinking about its reason-for-being… it’s architecture and craftsmanship… its STORY… the Taj did not disappoint!

We had a misty, mysterious morning with the building and its backdrop painting an ever-changing color palette until the sun was fully up, the crowds had materialized, and it was time to go to breakfast.